Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior Taylor Parrish scored the opening goal of the game for host Barton College before Pfeiffer University rallied for a 4-1 Conference Carolinas women's soccer victory on the strength of a hat trick by sophomore Becca Kirchner.
The Falcons (6-6-2 Overall; 5-2-2 Conf.) moved into fourth place in the Conference Carolinas standings with 17 points (three points for a win and one point for a tie). The top four teams at the end of the regular season will host a quarterfinals game in the 2012 Conference Carolinas Tournament in two weeks.
The Lady Bulldogs (4-9-0, 3-7-0) have lost three straight games and will now have to pull off an upset victory against league frontrunner and No. 9 NSCAA/Continental Tire Southeast Region ranked Lees-McRae College in Barton's last Conference Carolinas game of the season on Saturday to have any chance at making the league tourney. The Bulldogs square off against the Bobcats at the Barton Outdoor Athletic Complex with kickoff slated for 5 p.m.
Parrish put the Lady Bulldogs ahead early with a long strike in the 15th minute. Parrish gained possession of the ball on the right sideline, beat a Pfeiffer defender and then took a curling shot from about 30 yards out that bent inside the upper far post. The Smithfield, N.C., product moved into a tie for the Barton team lead in goals with freshman Emily Futral at five goals on the campaign.
Kirchner leveled the scoreboard at 1-1 with her first tally of the season in the 38th minute. Kirchner received the ball just outside the top of the Bulldogs 18-yard box from senior Brittany Papaj and fired the ball just under the crossbar.
Freshman Aaliyah Jackson scored late in the first half to give the visitors a 2-1 edge at halftime. Sophomore Hannah Hill nearly scored the go-ahead marker with a shot from the right flank that bounced of the crossbar but Jackson was positioned at the front door to easily knock in her team-leading seventh goal.
Barton had a couple scoring chances in the second half with a breakaway opportunity by Parrish in the 58th minute but Pfeiffer goalie Britt Polly came up with the diving save. Polly made another one of her eight saves on a good attempt by BC sophomore Breanna Briggs from the left side of the box in the 68th minute.
Kirchner added a pair of insurance goals in the second half to complete her hat trick. In the 59th minute, Hill made a volley from the right corner that Papaj was able to cross with a heel kick before Kirchner punched it into the back twine. Kirchner netted her third goal in the 72nd minute. Barton sophomore goalie Carson Moore attempted to punch another Hill serve out of the box but Kirchner was able to gain possession of the ball on its way out and then ripped in her third score.
Moore made six saves in 78 minutes of work while freshman reserve Kelsey Rothwell stopped one Falcon shot in the final 12 minutes without allowing a goal.
Pfeiffer held a commanding 19-12 shot advantage but the two teams had similar shots on goal with the Falcons putting 11 attempts on frame and the Bulldogs recording nine shots on goal.
